Last weekend while working on a particularly important paper, Office 2007 spell check stopped working. After repairing and reinstalling Word 2007, and still not solving the problem. I search for a solution and found the following:
2. Click OK, then the following will appear
3. Backup the registry: file|export
Exported to a folder that is easy to locate and save backup with the date in the file name
4. Make your way down until you see the following at the bottom of the window:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SharedTools\
ProofingTools\1.0\Override\en-US
5. There should be at least two files in the folder in addition to the default shown. Delete all files except the default, which cannot be deleted
6. Close the window and restart the computer
7. Office spell check should work.
Keegan.
John Keegan
Opinion 
Aug 20, 2008 @ 09:25:56
I did not have the override as listed, but the following worked:
Delete the registry key “Word” located at:
KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\
Word
Launch Word 2007 and it will rebuild the key.
Hope it works for those still out there looking for answers!
(credit: kevindevin.com)
SW
Sep 29, 2009 @ 12:52:41
I tried the first suggestion and did not find the override, so then I tried Shaylyn’s route …worked perfectly. I want to thank you both since I needed the visual blueprint to dare to try this. After spending hours reinstalling the program to no avail, this took all of a minute and presto…spellcheck was back. 🙂
Oct 31, 2009 @ 19:40:00
Shaylyn’s suggestion worked for me too! I deleted the “word” registry and reopened the program. All is well now!
Aug 18, 2010 @ 01:25:49
This work for me magnificently. Thank you.
Oct 05, 2010 @ 15:53:57
Thank you so much, this helped me!!!!:-)
Oct 28, 2010 @ 07:32:48
works even for office 2010! thanks man!
Mar 26, 2011 @ 08:23:39
hi shaylyn ..many thanks deleted the word as surgested and my spell check is back . i have been on this problem for months thanks dave
Sep 18, 2008 @ 10:52:18
This worked fantastically. The issue was for both Outlook and Word. Once I removed the keys listed, all was working again. Removing the key for Word did not resole the issue. It would probably resolve the issue if it was Word specific though.
Either way, saved a ton of time over uninstall and then install.
Oct 22, 2008 @ 09:34:53
Thanks for this solution, I searched everywhere and couldn’t find a good document even it the microsoft website, your instrction resolved my issue, which was getting me very mad for not being able to use the spell check.
Nov 07, 2008 @ 18:51:50
I am having issues with my spell checker not working, when I try to follow the instructions: Start, Run, (I type) Regedit then okay, a window pops up saying “regedit is not a valid Win32 application”
I’m not sure how to get to that HKEY_CURRENT_USER etc,
thanks!
Dec 13, 2008 @ 09:21:35
Removal of ‘Word’ from the registry as instructed above worked perfectly for me. Now I have my spell checker back! Thanks!!!
Mar 15, 2009 @ 13:59:15
Here is the fix from Microsoft……..it works and takes about 2 mins…after weeks of aggravation. My mail spell check was set for French and couldn’t get it to go to English.:::::::
I would like you to know that downloading a spell check program will resolve the issue. I have found the following web links from where you can download the free spell check program for Outlook Express:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2952
(After opening the above link, click on the any one of the file named “MajorGeeks”)
http://www.tinyspell.m6.net/
(After opening the above link, click on the “Download” link located at the right side of the page. That will show you the file that needs to download. Then download any one of the file shown in the website)
Mar 25, 2009 @ 11:34:04
Delete the registry key “Word” located at:
KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\
Word
Launch Word 2007 and it will rebuild the key.
this was worked for me, thanks
May 26, 2009 @ 15:38:50
Just a quick THANK YOU! After hours searching for the solution your directions fixed it in 2 minutes!
Jul 18, 2009 @ 04:45:28
I have struggled with this problem and think I found the answer. It seems that Office 2007 disables the english dictionary. I’ve read that is because it may conflict with older Outlook Express. To turn the spell check english dictionary back on goto:
Microsoft Office Button>
Word Options>
Ad Ins>
Manage (select disabled items)>
Click on the english dictionary and re-enable it>
Close Word and restart.
My speel check now works fine.
Aug 11, 2009 @ 12:28:05
THANK YOU for posting this. I tried all of MS’s suggestions in vain…was a little nervous to tamper w/ my registry, but your great post walked me through it w/ no problem (and a backup just to be safe). I really appreciate it — and I’ve put a link to this blog on Twitter.
Bravo!
Nov 04, 2009 @ 22:48:06
deleting WORK key worked perfectly
Nov 23, 2009 @ 08:45:26
mine says outlook spelling options REG_DWORD and Suggest from mainlexonly RE_DWORD. Do i delete the two entire files or just take the word “Word” off or rename them without “Word” in the name? I don’t have Office/12.0 I’m in microsoft office 2007 outlook
Dec 07, 2009 @ 13:56:57
Spell check didn’t work in Outlook and Word 2007. It turned out that I had two entries (both under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\1.0\Override\en-US) to a DLL and LEX file, and neither file existed. Removing these two registry entries fixed the problem.
Feb 04, 2010 @ 12:15:50
I use Office 2007. I opened Word, clicked on the MS Icon in upper left corner, then
Selected Word Options in lower right corner of the window ->
Select Add Ins in the drop-down menu ->
Find “Manage” at the bottom, hit the down arrow next to the little window, select “disabled items”, then click on “Go” ->
A window pops up showing what has been disabled. I re-enabled Spell-Check and it WORKS !!!
Click on the english dictionary and re-enable it>
Close Word and restart.
Feb 14, 2010 @ 13:57:08
Jim, thanks! My English spell check worked just fine, but another language didn’t. Thanks to your comment I managed to get the other language working finally. Thank you!
Mar 23, 2010 @ 01:58:50
I found out the problem that if you click on “Set Language” from word or outlook it will says “Don’t Check Spelling or Grammer” what I did, as follow:
1- Office Icon – Word Options -Proofing : click on custom dictionary and add it again.
it works for me,
Mar 26, 2010 @ 12:03:01
The fix for Office 2007 Spell Check worked perfectly.
Thank you for the fix.
May 12, 2010 @ 19:03:34
Thanks MJ. This is the only option that worked for me out of 7 different options that I tried.
Jun 18, 2010 @ 18:25:52
Thank you John! Appreciated your method!
Sep 10, 2010 @ 14:27:15
Dude, nice one soted my problem right out. This was on my work com. IT boys at work did not have a clue, nupties so they were.
Oct 17, 2010 @ 09:40:29
I have tried all of these suggestions and spell check still does not work for me in Outlook 2007. It worked fine for years and then about three weeks ago stopped working. I checked the registry and I do not have the override folder?
Any additional advice is appreciated.
Oct 19, 2010 @ 21:45:39
Completely uninstall Office 2007, you may want to download install windows installer cleanup utility, then reinstall the program. That should solve the problem.
Mar 12, 2011 @ 11:06:51
I tried all of the above as my spell check just stopped working. Why it stopped or how I fixed was that I changed my font from a “Clarance” font back to something more normal like Arial. Now my spell works again. I had changed my font for a letter to “Clarance” and after spending hours going through all these suggestion and nothing worked, I changed back to a normal font and presto. I hope everyone tries this first and it works for them.
Mar 26, 2011 @ 18:02:16
I still don’t Understand any thing above, MIcroSoft changed everything when they downloaded a service Pack 3 , nothing works the way it did they will not help me they keep saying there no way it doing what
I told them , after about 20 days trying to fix it Your sight is the only one , But I DO NOT UNDERSTAND
What YOU WANT ME TO DO ,I CAN NOT FIND WHAT YOU are tellind me to look for it just not there.
still trying to get some on to help me If anything else hapens to my P.C. I’m out id a job,
Microsoft don’t care if your system works for they all ready got my money . I know they did this to me
caused all my problems stsrted 7 days after, with the new Service pack 3 they want a lot of money for windows 7 they say
the only way to fix is BUY Office 10 or Windows 7 ,,,, WHY? IT WAS THERE BEFORE. I turned off up dates, it is the only was my 2005 HP media center , HP Pavilion a1250n will work But spelling ,drag and drop, and for other things don’t work
Mar 26, 2011 @ 19:59:02
See my comment below… completely uninstall microsoft office and reinstall it…
Apr 13, 2011 @ 20:58:12
none of this methods work.
i cant find the registry key, so there’s nothing to remove.
i cant reenable anything because there’s nothing to re-enable.
seriously guys, need more help
May 24, 2011 @ 12:30:17
nothing was working for me too.. i couldnt seem to find any of these registry keys.. but then i managed to fix it by mistake!!
on the bottom of word 2007, youll see 3 boxes on the bottom left: page 1 of 1, word count and ‘English(UK/ or US)’.
-Click on the English box (or whatever language dicionary u are using.)
-uncheck the box ‘do not check spelling and grammar’
– click ‘ok’
and now its working fine for me.. Have never been happier seeing the squigly red lines!!
hope it helps you too.
Apr 28, 2011 @ 08:09:30
thank you a lot !!!
Sep 16, 2011 @ 13:33:20
To: JohnJS
Thanks a lot your recomendation work perfect in a corporate buit.
Spell check didn’t work in Outlook and Word 2007.
It turned out that I had 3 entries ( under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\1.0\Override\en-US)
Keep Default and Delete the othe 2 (DLL and LEX registries)
Run Word 2007 and boila, problem fix.
Kudos to Jhon S
Sep 28, 2011 @ 09:32:08
I’m in a bit of a fix here, because i can’t find a folder called HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\1.0\Override\en-US
I have on my pc: C:\Documents and Settings\xx
XX being my name. It is the only place that it refers to me as a user with settings…please help me find the folder..
May 12, 2012 @ 15:58:01
Shaylyn-thank you!!! After 3 years of search and using mu Outlook to spell check with my Word is finally fixed. thank you thank you thank you
Jul 22, 2012 @ 05:32:50
I bet it’s a Microsoft Office update that kills the functionality.
Outlook 2007 Spell Check Registry Fix - ORG.org
Oct 29, 2014 @ 05:45:31